This article is part of our Training Camp Notes series.
The majority of Saturday's news came from preseason game action, though a lot of stars remained off the field due to either rest or minor injuries. That said, the focus of this article will be on news that has emerged around specific player roles and injury updates.
We'll begin with the injury news:
- As has been the case for much of training camp, Dak Prescott has dominated the headlines the last few days. Adam Schefter reported Friday that Prescott was unlikely to ever be at full health during the 2021 season. Tom Pelissero followed up on Schefter's assertion by reporting that Prescott has not suffered a setback with his shoulder and is ready to ramp up his practice reps in the coming weeks. Without inside knowledge, it's difficult to know which version of the news may be most truthful. Either way, for now it appears that Prescott remains on track to start in the regular-season opener Sept. 9.
- News surrounding Curtis Samuel is even more concerning. He has yet to participate in training camp due to a groin injury and was once again out for the team's second preseason game Friday against the Bengals. Although the team has downplayed the injury, it's the point in the preseason where Samuel needs to begin practicing for fantasy managers to have any confidence that he'll have an impact to begin the regular season.
- N'Keal Harry exited the Patriots' preseason game Thursday with a shoulder injury and is expected to miss about four weeks. That would keep him sidelined for Week 1 of the regular season and potentially Week 2 as well. This is just the latest episode of Harry's tumultuous career. It also solidifies at least some role for each of Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne.
- In better news, Clyde Edwards-Helaire reportedly did not suffer a high-ankle sprain in Friday's preseason game against the Cardinals. The second-year back will undergo additional tests, but he appears to have avoided a severe injury.
Now some depth chart/role updates:
- Justin Fields looked a bit more like a rookie Saturday against the Bills. He still showed some promise with his legs — 46 rushing yards — but managed only 4.2 yards per attempt through the air. After the game, coach Matt Nagy reiterated that Andy Dalton will start the team's regular season opener despite some struggles of his own.
- Under not particularly surprising yet still impactful news, the Raiders expect Kenyan Drake to have a significant role in the Raiders' offense. The team reportedly will rely on Josh Jacobs as an early down rusher, with Drake gaining most of his work as a pass-catcher and change-of-pace runner. Drafters have largely treated the Raiders backfield this way, with Jacobs ADP falling significantly since last season and Drake consistently selected in the middle rounds.
- Donovan Peoples-Jones continues to gain momentum in Cleveland. He reportedly worked with the first-team offense for much of the week. Peoples-Jones will still be competing with Rashard Higgins for targets behind Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry come the regular season, but he's becoming a name to stash on a watch list in case injuries strike the Browns' receiver corps.
- Travis Fulgham emerged for a few explosive performances in 2020, but he faded quickly. That trend appears to be continuing this preseason. He has practiced with the reserves recently, with Quez Watkins the primary player to whom he appears to be losing ground.
- Ja'Marr Chase had an ugly preseason game. He didn't convert any of his three targets to receptions, with two of those passes hitting him in the hands. Between this performance and reports of his inconsistencies in training camp he may be fairly projected for a slower start to the regular season than expected.
- In a radio interview Friday, Larry Fitzgerald said he has no desire to return to the field. While the Cardinals have noted they would welcome Fitzgerald back, his retirement would open targets for Rondale Moore and Christian Kirk. At this point in each of the player's respective careers, that's an exciting development for fantasy managers.
